Ichiro

Yes, 3508 hits in professional baseball. Even had one 200 hit season in the short Japanese season.

Most probably will not make it to 3000 hits but is he a Hall of Famer?

Is he a first ballot Hall of Famer?

quote:

Originally posted by deldad:
Is he a first ballot Hall of Famer?

I think so. Whenever he becomes eligible, HOF voting will still be caught up in the quagmire of trying to sort out the guaranteed steroid-free players from the question marks. Ichiro's body type never changed thoughout his entire career, and in fact remained painfully scrawny throughout. A video of any single one of his hits will tell you he did it with all-natural talent applied in a unique style. (All finesse, no power)

I think when his vote comes up, there's going to be a drought on clean nominees like him that you can depend upon. Plus, he'll be a good way to mark the start of the "Japanese Invasion". They love that kind of stuff in Cooperstown.

I saw a Mariners-Red Sox game in 2006 and in BP Ichiro dropped some bombs like everyone else. He just has a different swing and approach in the real game.

Overall I agree with wraggarm and his points but I would like to add that I believe his defense will be a huge factor if he gets in. He's made some really nice plays but he's steady at a high level. So far he's a 9 time gold glove winner and not really showing that many signs of slowing down.

I don't think he can get in on just one aspect of the game - hitting over defense over baserunning - but you combine all three then you probably have an HOF player maybe by the third ballot at worst.

I don't see how any voter could not vote for him on the first ballot.???

I have heard that many of his lockermates would not vote that way

IMO, absolute cinch first ballot. He has done things that have never been done before. To get a good comparison look at Richie Ashburn who is in the Hall of Fame. In 5 less years Ichiro has almost as many hits, a much higher lifetime B. ave., more homeruns, more stolen bases, less caught stealing and Ichiro is as good a defensive player as there is.

Ichiro is a .331 lifetime ave. hitter and he has 382 stolen bases. And as "Coach2709" mentioned, he has been a Gold Glove winner every year.

I do think he needs to play a couple more years to get everyone voting for him. I think some voters regard longevity high on there list. Also, I suppose whoever else is eligible the same year could play into it, but I can't see him not getting enough votes.

quote:

I do think he needs to play a couple more years to get everyone voting for him. I think some voters regard longevity high on there list. Also, I suppose whoever else is eligible the same year could play into it, but I can't see him not getting enough votes.

I agree he's a first ballot guy but I can see what PGStaff put above as the reason he may not get it the first or second time. He deserves the first ballot but you never know with guys like Burt Blylevin not in - crazier things have happened.

Besides being a golden glover every year he has been in the league and being on of the top baserunners, he has AVERAGED more hits per season for ten years than 99% of major leaguers get even one time.

Ichiro is a personal friend of my son, Robert.

They met in Japan when Ichiro was playing
for the Japan team and Robert was a scout for the Mariners.

Ichiro was unhappy that he was not select to play for the Japan HS "All Stars",when we played the Japan National Team with our American team.
He was a pitcher is HS.

You may desire to read his book. It is a great inside on a professional hitter and outfielder. He had the Seattle Mariners grounds keeper cut the grass short so he could receive the batted ball quicker and throw out the runner.

Bob Williams

Reviews of Ichiro on Ichiro: Conversations with Narumi Komatsu Alibris Community

"I love comparing and contrasting between Asian and American major league baseball. This book offers insight into Suzuki's decision to leave Japan and play for the Seattle Mariners. Most of the text focuses on his techniques and experiences playing baseball in Japan and in the States."

I think I would enjoy the book Mr. Williams. I have a couple on Japanese baseball, one called, "You've Got To Have Wa" by an author whose name is Whiting I believe. I'm at work and the title may be slightly different but its about Americans who have played in the Japanese game. Very interesting to see the contrasts. Actually to come over and be able to adjust their game to the American style says a lot for Ichiro and Matsui.

Ten seasons:

ten all-star games
ten 200 hit seasons
three silver sluggers
nine gold gloves in nine votes
four top ten MVP finishes
1 MVP
.331 lifetime
.376 ob% lifetime
averages 100+ runs scored per season

Barring injury or a drastic change in skill level he's headed for 3,000 hits. They can start chiseling the bust now.

Three Bagger;

Whiting is a great author. Before our 1st trip to Japan in 1984, I read the book and it prepared me for
the Japanese "way".

In Ichiro's book, he discuss the adjustments which he made in the "strike zone". The Japan umpires call the outside pitch different by a half baseball than the American umpires, so he adjusted.

"The great baseball players, do not complain, they adjust!". Same in teaching, in business, in life.

Did you watch Willie Mays interview last night?
It was a classic. The art of adjusting.

Bob

Mr. Williams,

I believe I read that the Japanese baseball is somewhat smaller than our ML one. No I wish I had. Did you see on the news today that they found the only surviving film of the whole 1960-Mazeroski HR World Series in the late Bing Crosby's wine cellar? It is supposed to be in prestine condition. Hope to see that soon.

my son has 3 words taped his door (no blasphemy intended)..."Ichiro is God". it would have ben great to see his final numbers if he had started out in the MLB.

Three Bagger

Who was the famous photographer that recorded the HR and how did he select the best position at Forbes field to point his camera.

Again he had a "six sense" and did not follow the other photographers at the game.

"This is the rest of the story"

Bob

Mr. Williams,

I give up! I think you've got me on the question of the photographer. I'm going to guess that he may have tried to get the clock that was on or above the old Forbes field wall in a picture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...DsVE&feature=related

the photographer was Al Liefer. He started the game in the upper deck and then worked his way down to the 1st base dugout for the photo.
Watch this video. It is a classic. At the end Casey Stengel is fired.

Bob
PS: yes the Japanese baseball has "flat" seams.

I love those youtube baseball videos. So much stuff is on there that I've never seen before. I watch any old baseball related films I can.